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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement between pro-slave states and anti-slave states to balance the number of slave and free states. They decided to make Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state, and also create the Mason -Dixon line. This agreement was considered a major factor in bringing the United States to war with itself because it sectionalized the nation. This compromise angered the South because the North freed a lot more territory. -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of 1828 was a tax set on imported goods to improve domestic economy. Northeners liked this taiff because it encouraged Americans to buy their goods. However, the Southerenrs didnot like it and called it the Tariff of Abominations because they thoguht it would hurt their cotton trade with Britain. This was a factor that contributed to the Civil War because it showed that some things that were benefitial to the north, were disadvantageous to the South, it encouraged sectionalism. -
Nat Turner´s Rebellion
A slave rebellion in South Hampton, Virginia led by Nat Turner. The people involved went from house to house killing all the whte people and freeing the slaves, it was stopped in Belmont Plantation on August the 23rd. This contributed to the Civil War because it showed that the slaves could express their suffering in violent ways and instead of trying to negotiate with them, the Southerners killed all the suspects. -
Compromise of 1850
This Compromise was made to settle disputes by accepting California as a free state, and allowing New Mexico and Utah territory to decide wether they wanted to accept slavery or not. Also, another bill was the source of Northeners becoming angry. The Fugitive Slave Act stated that free states could not help and had to give back escaped slaves to their owners. This angered the North because they were free states and believed that slavery was wrong and slavery was happening in free territory. -
Uncle Tom´s Cabin
A book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was very controversial in the South because it portrayed slavery as something brutal and cruel. This book contributed to the beggining of the Civil War, because it angered the Southerners by showing them how badly the Northerners viewed them and it helped Northeners understand just how bad slavery was. -
Birth of the Republican Party
This political party was born when the Anti-slavery Whigs, democrats and the Free-Soilers combined. This was a party mostly supported by northerners. The Democrats became a party mostly supported by the Southerners. This contributed to the Civil War because it was a clear example of sectionalism, different political parties supporting different parts of the country with very different goals and ideas. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not they wanted to allow slavery. This contributed to the Civil War because it angered the North since according to the Missouri Compromise those states should be free states, and if both states decided to be slave, it would give more power to the South. -
Bleeding Kansas
Kansas declared itself a slave state, but abolitionists decided to follow a constitution made by themselves. People who supported slavery started to shoot and kill abolitionists in a safe house. The federal troops arrived to stop these attacks. This contributed to the Civil WAr because it was an example of what would happen later between abolitionists and the supporters of slavery. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
Dred Scott, a slave tried to bring a lawsuit to become free. He did not win the case because according to the Supreme Court Justice, African Americans (either slave or free) coulod not be American citizens and therefore did not have a stance in court. The court also stated that they did not have jurisdiction over that case. This contributed to the Civil War because some people were starting to realize that slavery was wrong and it needed to be abolished in all the country. -
Lincoln vs Douglas Debates
A series of seven debates in which Stephen Douglas (Democrat) and Abraham Lincoln (Republican) discussed slavery. This led to the Civil War because it changed some peoples minds about slaves being considered more human than property simply because it was said by an important Republican called Abraham Lincoln. -
John Brown´s Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, a northern abolitionist, led a raid into Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to take the weapons, in order to arm the slaves and make a revolt. This revolt was stoppped by slave owners and John Brown was hung, but many saw him as a martyr. This contributed to the Civil War because the Southerners realized that the Northerners were starting to form conspiracies against them. -
Lincoln´s Election
In the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the Republicans. He wanted to ban slavery in the country. Because the Democratic Party was so dvided, Lincoln won by a clear majority because he was a favorite in all the Northern States. This contributed to the Civil War because when Lincoln won, many Southern States began thinking about the idea of seceding from the Union in order to preserve slavery and not be persecuted.
